A monumental sculpture of Maria Callas’ voice in bronze and gold recently premiered in Dubai. The internationally renowned artist Nikos Floros transformed the Greek diva’s voice into sculpture using an innovative technique that captured the spectrogram of Maria Callas‘ voice into a material sculpture of bronze and gold.
The unveiling of this one-of-a-kind work of art took place in Dubai on September 19. The Greek artist presented his creation, Echo of Casta Diva—The Maria Callas Sculpture, named after the famous aria “Casta Diva” by Vincenzo Bellini, sung by Maria Callas.
Nikos Floros’ work is the first sculpture in the history of art to be created from the voice of Maria Callas. A recording of the great diva was transformed into a visual and material form, capturing the echogram of her voice in bronze and gold.
The work is not only a monument to the unsurpassed Maria Callas; it is also a global innovation that allows everyone to feel her voice. For those who never had the opportunity to hear her, a new path is available. People can now see and touch the greatness of Callas’ voice. The sculpture captures, in a unique way, the essence and magic of her artistry, creating a timeless imprint.
@nikosfloros_art Παγκόσμια Πρεμιέρα στο Ντουμπάι: Το πρώτο γλυπτό παγκοσμίως που δημιουργήθηκε από τη φωνή της Μαρίας Κάλλας Στις 19 Σεπτεμβρίου 2025 πραγματοποιήθηκαν τα αποκαλυπτήρια στην Όπερα του Ντουμπάι του μνημειώδους έργου του διεθνούς φήμης Έλληνα γλύπτη Νίκου Φλώρου, με τίτλο «Echo of Casta Diva – The Maria Callas Sculpture». Πρόκειται για το πρώτο γλυπτό στην ιστορία της τέχνης που γεννήθηκε από τη φωνή της Μαρίας Κάλλας. Η ίδια η ηχογράφηση της μεγάλης ντίβας μετατράπηκε σε οπτική και υλική μορφή, αποτυπώνοντας το ηχόγραμμα της φωνής της σε μπρούντζο και χρυσό. #dubaiopera🇦🇪 #dubai🇦🇪 #LegendaryLeader #HellenicLegacy #TikTokHistory
♬ آهات بشرية اسلامية – صمت – Islamic Sound – Calm – Voice of the soul – صوت الروح
Echo of Casta Diva—The Maria Callas Sculpture
The innovative Echo of Casta Diva—The Maria Callas Sculpture stands 3 meters (9 feet) high and weighs approximately 300 kilograms (660 pounds). Crafted from bronze and gold—two elements that faithfully embody the spectrogram of Callas’ voice—the work transforms sound into form with striking precision. Its three-dimensional rendering of her voice creates a solid, imposing presence that unites artistic abstraction with scientific technology. Through this union, viewers can both see and touch the energy and expression of Callas’ voice, making the work truly unique in the world.
The unveiling was led by the Director of the Dubai Opera, Paolo Petroccelli. Both the Greek artist and the director spoke with emotion about the significance of the work and its breathtaking impact. Art historian and curator Elpida Loukaides offered a detailed explanation of the process behind the creation and artistic imprint it leaves.
The event was attended by distinguished figures from the worlds of letters and the arts, representing Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Europe, and the United States.
For the Greek artist, the presentation in Dubai holds special significance: it marks the second time that Nikos Floros has been officially invited by the Dubai Opera, underscoring a long-standing cultural collaboration with the United Arab Emirates. Floros has also painted the official portrait of the President and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi—a work from his personal collection—and has been honored as an Honorary Artist of the UAE during the celebrations for the 52nd anniversary of the nation’s founding.
This is also the second time Floros has sculpted the Greek diva. In May, he unveiled a steel statue of Maria Callas that now graces the Opera Theater of Rome, immortalizing the legendary soprano.
Under the auspices of the Greek Embassy
The presentation of the sculpture was held under the auspices of the Greek Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Consul Panagiotis Kougias delivered a speech at the unveiling, highlighting the international value of Greek art and the significance of Nikos Floros’ work being showcased in Dubai.
The Director of the Dubai Opera emphasized that the unveiling coincided with the premiere of Puccini’s opera La Bohème, marking the beginning of the Opera’s winter season. He noted that several thousand visitors are expected to attend the performances in the coming weeks, and each will have the opportunity to view this specially created sculpture of Maria Callas, presenting her voice in sculptural form to the world for the very first time.
Nikos Floros stated:
“The voice of Maria Callas cannot disappear. Now it is transformed into a sculpture, into an eternal imprint. It is deeply moving to know that even people who cannot hear can now touch and feel this miracle.”
The world tour of Echo of Casta Diva—The Maria Callas Sculpture begins at the Dubai Opera and will circulate to major cities around the globe, including New York, Paris, Rome, Sydney, and Tokyo.
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